1558 Calais, the last English possession in France, was captured by the French. Thereafter two countries became and remained separated by the La Manche after four hundred years of dynastic claims and counter-claims. Its proximity to England made Calais seem the natural target for D-Day in 1944.
1789 America’s first presidential election was held over a period of one month. Voters cast ballots to choose state electors; only white men who owned property voted. Three of the thirteen states did not participate because they had not yet ratified the constitution. George Washington won the election and the second place finisher, John Adams, became Vice President. Imagine what Faux News would make of that.
1927 The Harlem Globetrotters played their first game in Hinckley, Illinois south of Chicago. Abe Saperstein, a tailor, was the impresario and manager at a time when blacks were banned from competitive sports. The Globetrotters lived up to the name. Despite the showmanship, clowning, and antics, the team only ever lost one game. It nurtured many a great athlete and provided many with a living and a creative outlet. Saperstein is on the left below. But the way, the Globetrotters had nothing to do with Harlem but took the name because it had caché during the Harlem Renaissance at the time.
1965 The first hydrofoil ferry, the MV Manly, began operating in Sydney Harbour. They seem to walk on the water and cut the time in half for three times the cost of the ferries. Ridden a few of these.
2000 Beverley McLachlin became the first woman to be Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. She grew up in Pincher Creek, Alberta, population of 3600.
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